Cace lock



Nov. 1, 1932. e. w. MERRITT CAGE LOCK Filed June 21, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w QM NM QM f/zmfirzi o 53672-2 M (WW-0% VMW,

NOV. 1, 1932. w, ME T 1 ,885,277

Nov. 1, 1932. G. w. MERRITT CAGE LOCK Filed June 21, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Nov. 1, 1932 srrss GLENN W. MERRITT, OF BOWERS'ION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'I'O MINING SAFETY DEVICE COMPANY, E BOW'ERSTGN, OHIO, A COEPORATIGN OF OHIO cAeE Application filed iuneel,

This invention relates to means for handling mine cars, and more particularly to an apparatus, which I term a cage lock, for locking or holding the car upon the cage.

Cage locks for holding mine cars upon a cage are well known in the art, As far as I am aware, cage locks at present in use are adapted to admit cars onto the cage from one end only thereof. One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a cage lock which isqautomatic in its operation and is capable of permitting caging of cars from either end of the cage.

This facilitates loading of cars onto the cage from either side of the shaft, effecting a material saving in time in handling of the cars as well as in cost of equipment. A further object of my invention-is to provide a cage lock which is controlled by a car entering the cage from either end thereof and which serves effectively to lock the car upon the cage. A further object is to provide a cage lock .of the character stated which is of sturdy but comparatively simple and int expensive construction. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a mine cage 30 with a cage lock, in accordance with my in vention, applied thereto;

Figure 2 is 'a side viewof the cage with a cage lock in accordance withmy invention applied, showing'a mine car held in positlon upon the cage, the cage being shown partly in section and broken away;

Figure 3 is an end view of the cage with the lock applied, taken from the trip shaft end;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View through the cage at the trip shaft end thereof and through a landing.

I have illustrated my cage lock as applied to a mine cage 1 of suitable construction, this cage being provided with suitable .cross bracesand associated parts which also serve as supports for the elements of the cage lock.

Rail sections 2 are suitably secured upon alignment with rails 3 (Figure 5) at the landings and at the top and the bottom of shaft 4 in which the cage operates. Suitable landers are provided at the various landings for supporting the cage during loading and unloading thereof. These'landers are known in the art and comprise. suitable landing chairs 5 having associated therewith operatmg means for moving the chairs into and out of operating position. Normally the landing chairs are disposed out of the path of travel of the cage. When the cage is to stop at a landing, the landers are operated so as to move the chairs 5 outwardly beneath the cage, which is then lowered onto the chairs so as to be supported thereby, with the rail sections 2 of the cage in alignment with the rails 3 of the landing. Landers of this general type, and means for operating the same, are well knownin the art and need not'h'e illustrated nor described here in detail.

An operating shaft 6 is slidably and rockably mounted in bearing, sleeves 7 suitably secured to cross members 8, 9 and 10 of the 7 cage. This shaft extends lengthwise of the cage and is preferably disposed midway between the rail sections 2 and somewhat below the same. A second shaft ll'is rockably mounted in bearing sleeves 12 secured to cross members 13 and 14 of the cage, this shaft 11 being disposed co-aXially with shaft 6. A dog clutch member 15 is suitably secured on the inner end of shaft 11 and cooperates with a similar member 16 suitably secured on the inner end of shaft 6 for clutching the two shafts together.

Shaft 6 is urged inwardly by an expansion coil spring 17 mounted about the outer end portion of this shaft and confined between cross member 8 and a collar 18 suitably secured upon the shaft. This spring serves to urge shaft 6 toward shaft 11 so as to normally hold the clutch member 16 in clutch: ing engagement with the .clutch member 15. In this manner the two shaftsare normally clutched together so as to turn in unison.

A two armed member 19 is loosely mounted upon shaft 6 adjacent each end thereof for turning movement independently of the shaft, the shaft having sliding movement through such members. Each of these members is provided with two arms 20 extending therefrom in substantially diametrically opposite relation. Each of these arms is connected, by a suitable connecting rod 21, which is preferably adjustable as to length, to a finger 22 depending from a stop member or horn 23. This horn is suitably secured upon a shaft 24; which is roclrably and slidably mounted in bearing blocks 25 suitably secured to rail section 2. An expansion coil spring 26 is mounted about shaft 24 and is confined between the outer bearing block 25 and horn 23. This spring serves as a cushioning element for limiting outward move ment of the horn under the impact of a car entering the cage. One of the shafts, designated 24a, which support the horns is extended beyond the outer bearing block 25 and is provided with a squared end portion 2 1?) for reception of a wrench or other tool. This provides means whereby the horns at one end of the cage may be operated manually when necessary or desirable as, for example, for removing a loaded car from the cage at the top of the shaft.

The horns 23 flare toward the ends of the cage, as in Figure 1, and are disposed to eX- tend inwardly over the treads of the rail sections 2 and upwardly so as to contact the treads of wheels w of a car C disposed upon the cage, as in Figure 2. The two sets of horns, when closed, serve to effectively lock the car upon the cage.

Two shafts 27 are mounted transversely of the cage above shaft 6 and adjacent each end thereof, these shafts 27 being mounted for rocking movement in bearing sleeves 28 suit ably secured to the underside of rail sections 2. A collar 29 is suitably secured on each shaft 27 and contacts one of the bearing sleeves 28 to hold the shaft against endwise movement in one direction. ber 30 is suitably secured to shaft 27 adjacent the other end thereof and is provided with an angularly disposed arm 31 from the outer end of which projects a lug 32. A wheel operated lever i 3 is loosely mounted upon shaft 27 and is confined between shift member 30 and the other bearing sleeve 28, member 30 and lever 33 cooperating with the adjacent bearing sleeve for holding shaft 27 against endwise movement in the other direction.

The wheel lever 33 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 34- clisposed adj acent the inner side of the head of rail section 2. This arm 3% is normally held in upright position by a counter weight 35 de pending from lever 33. The lever is further provided with an element 36 (Figure 2) disposed to contact lug 32 of shift men1- ber 30 when the lever 33 is rocked inwardly A shift mem and downwardly, that is, in a clockwise direction, as considered in Figure 2.

When the lever 33 is rocked in the opposite direction, element 36 is moved away from lug 33 so that the shiftmember 30 is not operated. It will thus be seen that a loaded car, entering the cage from the left-hand end thereof, as considered in Figure 2, will rock shaft 27 adjacent this end of the cage in a clockwise direction, whereas an empty car leaving the cage at the left-hand end thereof will rock the lever 33 but will not actuate shaft 27. In like manner, a loaded car entering the cage from the right-hand end thereof will rock shaft/27 adjacent this end of the cage in a counter-clockwise direction, as considered in Figure 2, and an empty car leaving the cage at the right-hand end thereof will rock the lever 33 without actuating the associated shaft 27.

A countershaft 37 is rocliably mounted in bearing sleeves 38 suitably secured to brace I members 39 connecting cross members 9 and 10 of the cage structure. This countershaft is o s d rr lll ith anl f r bl m'd- .ioCllS O Q pa a e vs L c pre e a y 1 way between the shafts 27 Shaft 37 extends through one of the members 39 and an arm 10 is suitably secured upon the end portion of the shaft and contacts the outer face of such member. A second arm 40 is secured upon shaft 37 and contacts the sleeve 38 which is secured to member 39 through which the shaft extends. These arms 40 coact with leave 38 and the associated member 39. for holding the shaft 37 against endwise movement. The arms 10 are oppositely related and are connected, by adjustable connecting rods 41, to arms 42 suitably secured on shafts 27. A shifting fork 43 is suitably secured upon countershaft 37 and straddles shaft 6.

The arms of this fork contact a shifting collar a l suitably secured upon shaft 6. Upon actuation of either of the shafts 27 by an entering car, countershaft 37 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, as considered in Figure 2. This movement of shaft 37 acts to shift operating shaft 6 toward the left, as considered in Figure 1, by means of fork i3 and shifting collarv i l. This movement of shaft 6 disengages clutch member 16 thereof from clutch member 15 so that shaft 6 can be turned independently of the aligned shaft 11. This permits closing of horns 23 by tension springs 45 the outer ends of which are suitably anchored to the cage, the inner ends of the respective springs being suitably attached to one of the arms 20 of member 19 so as to turn this member in horn closing direction.

A trip shaft 46 is rockably mounted, in parallel relation to shaft 11, in bearing sleeves L7 suitably secured to cross members 13 and 1 1 of the cage structure. An upwardly extending arm 18 is suitably secured upon trip shaft l6 adjacent the inner end thereof,

" members and 16, to operating shaft .6. This restart and is connected by anadjustable,connecting rod49 to an upwardly' 'extending arm 50 suitably secured upon shaft 11 adjacent the innerv bearing sleeve 12 therefor. A downwardly]v extending arm 51 is suitably'secured upon shaft 11 adjacent the outer bearing-sleeve 12 therefor. A tension spring 52 has its inner end connected to arm 51 and iszsuitably anchored at its outer end to the cage structure. This spring urges the shaft 11 in acounterclockwise direction and normally holds this shaftv and the tripshaft 46 in the positions of Figure 3. I A trip crank :53 is suitably secured upon trip shaft 46 adjacent the outer bearmg sleeve 47-therefor. In the normal position of shaft 46, pin 53a of this crank is disposed downwardly below thestructure of the cage, as 1n Figure 3. A suitable opening 54 is provided in the cage structure to accommodate upward movement of the pin 53a.

'In describing the operation of my cage lock, it is assumedthat the cage has been raised to the top of the shaft, a loaded car'has been removed from the cage and replacedby an empty car, and the cage is being lowered into the shaft to a predetermined landing. WVith the landers inoperative position, as the cage is lowered onto the lander chairs, p1n

53a of the trip crank 53 contacts one of the chairs so as tobe turnedin a counter-clockwise direction as considered in Figure 3, the crank arm being turned into the dotted line position of this figure. VVhenthe empty car is upon the cage, and before the trip arm contacts the lander chair, the parts of the lock will occupy the relative positions of Figure 1. Upon turning of trip shaft 46 in a counter-clockwise direction, similar turning; movement will be imparted to shaft 11 and, through the clutch turning movement of shaft 6 is imparted to members 19byoperating arm 55 suitably secured upon shaft 6 adjacent members 19,

each of these arms being provided with a lug 56 extending beneath the .upper arm 20 of member 19 and so disposed as to contact this arm when the horns 23 are closed. This serves to open the horns of both sets or pairs of horns. The entering loaded car, which may enter the cage from either end thereof, pushes the empty car from the cage at theother end thereof; c 7

When the wheels of the empty car have cleared. the. Wheel operated lever 33 at such other end of the cage, the front wheel of the entering loadedcar operates lever 33 adjacent the end of the cage from which the loaded car enters,thus.rocking shaft 27 and shifting operating shaft 6 toward the left so as to disengage clutch member 16 from clutch member'15 in the manner previously described. Shaft 6 is thus declutched from shaft 11 and the springs 45 act to close thehorns23 and also turn the shaft 6,'due to contact between the upper arms 20 and lugs 56, so as to move the jaws of clutch member 16 into. alignment the back wheels of the car but, due to the out Ward flaring of the horns, the horns are opened by the back wheels and are immediately closed by the spring 45. The loaded caris then disposed upon the cage with the horns closed in front and in back of the wheels, aslin Figure 2; Upon raising of the cage from thelanders, thetrip crank 53 is released and tension spring 52 actsto return shafts 11 and 46 to their original positions, bringing the jaws of clutch member 15 into alignment with the cooperating recesses of clutch member 16. Spring 17 then acts to shift operating shaft 6 towardthe right, returning it to its original positionand moving clutch member 16 into engagement with clutch member 15, as in Figure 1.

The arms 55 and the lugs 56 thereof, in conjunction with the associated arms 20 of members 19, provide clutch means for connecting members 19 and shaft 6 for movement in unison in the opening of the horns and in the closing thereof when shaft 6 is declutched from shaft 11. It will be noted, however,.that when the horns are closed either pair of horns can be opened, by the rear wheels of the entering loaded car, and can close, without operating shaft 6,sinoe arm 20 of each member 19 is disposed above lug 56 of the associated member 55. This permits the rear wheels 0 the entering loaded car to open the adjacent pairof horns 23 so as to pass therebetween onto the cage tracks 2, after which the horns are closedbehind such rear wheels, in the manner above described. I

To assure proper engagement between the clutch members 15 and 16, asuitable flexible member, such as a chain 57 is anchored tothe member 39 through which shaft 37 passes, at one end, the other end of this chain being suitably secured to an arm 58 which is secured upon shaft 6 in a suitable manner. The chain 57 is of proper length to so limit turning movement of shaft 6 in horn closing direction as to assure thatthe dogs of clutch member 15 will engage properly between the dogs of clutch member 16, when shaft 11 is returned to normal position by the action of spring 52. Vhen the cage reaches thetop of the shaft, one pair of horns 23 may be opened by means of the shaft 24a, to the squared portion 24b of which a suitable wrench is applied, for rolling the loaded car off of the rail sections 2 onto the rails of a receiving track with which the rail sections 2 are aligned.

Since the horns of both pairs are flared toward the end ofthe cage, cars can be loaded onto the cage from either end thereof. This. is advantageous as enabling handling;

member 16 of shaft 6, as indicated in Figure- 1. This assists in holding the two shafts in proper alignment.

Vf hat I claim is: v 1. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops mounted upon the cage adjacent each end thereof and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, yielding means for normally holding the stops in closed position, said stops being adapted to be opened by the wheels of an entering car, means for opening the stops in the positioning of the cage at a landing and for holding the stops open, and means actuated by a car entering the cage for releasing both sets of stops to permit closing thereof.

2. Incombination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops mounted upon the cage and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, said of stops being disposed to receive between them the wheels of a car positioned upon the cage and being adapted to be opened by the wheels of a car entering the cage, means for opening the stops in the positioning of the cage at a landing and for holding the stops open, and means actuated by a car entering the cage from either end thereof for releasing both sets of stops to permit closing of the same.

3. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops mounted upon the cage and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, said sets of stops being disposed to receive between them the wheels of a car positioned upon the rail sections, operating means for opening the stops in the positioning of the cage at a landing and for holding the stops open, yielding means for closing the stops, the operating means being normally out of stop opening position and the stops being movable into open and closed position independently of said operating means when the latter is in normal position, and means actuated by a car entering the cage from either end thereof for releasing the operating means and permitting closing of both sets of stops, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the cage from either end thereof.

4, in combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops mounted upon the cage and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, said sets of stops being disposed to receive between 5 them the wheels of a car positioned upon the rail sections, yielding means for closlng the and for returning the shaftto inoperative '7 position in the closing .of the stops upon re lease of the shaft, said connections being adapted to permit opening and closing of the stops independently of the shaft when the latter is in inoperative position, trip means for turning the sh aft into stop opening position inthe positioning of the cage at a landing and for holding said shaft in such position, and means actuated by a car entering the cage at either end thereof for releasing the shaft from said trip means to permiticlosing-of the stops, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the cageat either end thereof.

5. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops mountediupon the'cage and movable'into and out of closed posit m to extend over the rail sections, said sets of stops being disposed to receive be tween them the Wheels of a car positioned upon the railsections, yielding means for closing the stops, an operating shaft rockably mounted upon the cage for movement intoand out of stop opening position',said shaft being normally in inoperative position, operating connections between the shaft and the stops for opening the stops and holding them open when the shaft is in stop opening position and for returning the shaft to in- .ie'rat-ive position in the closing of the stops upon release of the shaft, said connections being adapted to permit opening and closing of the stops'independently of the shaft whenthe latter is in inoperative position, trip means for turning the shaft into stop opening ioo positioninthe positioning of the cage at a landing and for holding said shaft in such position, said trip means including a clutch between the same and the shaft, means actuated by a car entering the cage at either end thereof for declutching the shaft from the trip means, means for returning the trip means to normal position upon release thereof, and means for clutching the shaft to the trip means when the latter and said shaft, are

returned to normal position, the stops being 7 adapted to be opened by a car entering the cage at either end thereof.

6. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, setsof stops'mo'vable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, said sets of stops being disposed to receive between them the wheels of a car. upon the 'rail's'ections and being adapted to be opened by a car entering the cage at either end thereof, yielding means for normally holding' the stops closed, a rockably mounted its operating shaft, operating-connections between said "shaft and the stops for opening the stops upon turning of the shaft into operative position, said connections permitting opening andclosing of the stops independently of the shaft when the latter is inits normal inoperative position, a trip shaft, operating connections between the trip shaft and the operating shaft efiective when both A shafts are innormal position,'yie1ding means for holding the trip shaft in normal position, means actuated by a car entering the cage at either end thereof for disabling the connectionbetween the'sha-ftswhen they are in position. r

5 stop opening position, and :means for reestablishing operating connections between said shafts upon return thereof to normal 7. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops movable into ative' position and for returning the shaft to inoperative position in theclosing of the stops,'said connections permitting opening and closing of the stops, independently of the shaft when the latter-is in its normal inoperative position, trip means including a second shaft aligned with the operating shaft and mounted for rocklng movement, ylelding means normally holding the second shaft in'normal inoperative position, a clutch connecting the two shafts, means actuated by a car entering the cage'at eitherend for declutching the'shafts when they are in operative position, and means for clutching the shafts together'again upon return thereof to inoperative position;

' 8. In combination w tha cage and ra1l sections'th-ereon, sets of stops movable into and out of closed'position to extend overthe rail sections, said sets of'stops being disposed to receive between them the wheels of a car upon the rail sections and being adapted to be opened by a car entering the cage at elther I end thereof, yieldig means for normally AF holding the stops closed, a rocliably mounted operating shaft, operating connections between said shaft and the stops for opening the stops upon turning'of the shaft into operative position and for returning the shaft to inoperative position in the closingof the stops, said connections permitting opening and closing of the stops independently of the shaft when the latter is in its normal inoperative position, trip means, clutch means between the trip means and the shaft, means actuated by'a car entering'the cageateither end thereof for declutching the? shaft from the tripmeans, and means for reclutching' said shaft tothe trip. means when the shaft is'innormal position}; :v 1 9. In combination witha cage and rail sec!- tions thereon,sets of stops movable-into andout of closed position to'eXtend over the'rail sections and disposedto receive between them the wheels of a car upon-the rail sections, said stops beingadapted to be opened by a car entering the cage-rat either endthereof, an

operating shaft mounted for rocking movement, operating arms loose upon the shaft for relative turning movement thereon, operating 7* connections betweenthe arms and the st'opsg yielding means for holding the stops closed,

, abutment members rigid'with the shaft and disposed to contact the arms and move them in stop" opening. direction upon movement-of the shaft in such direction, said abutment members being out of the path'of movement of the arms when the shaft is in normal posi-' tion, trip means movable into operative and inoperative positions, and means actuated by acar entering the cage at'either end'thereof: for declutching' the shaft from the trip means and for clutching the shaft to the trip means when the latter is returned .to inoperative position, r 10.- In combination'with' a cage and rail.

sections thereon, sets of stopsmovable into and out of closed position toextendover the rail sections and disposed to receive between them the wheels of a car upon the rail sec-. tions, said stops being adapted tobeopened? by a car entering the cage-at either end there-:- of, an operating shaft mounted for rocking movement operating arms loose upon the shaft for relative turning movement,v thereon,

operating'connections between the arms and,

the stops, yielding means for holding the stops closed, abutment members rigid with;

the shaft and disposed to contact the arms,

and move them in stop opening direction upon movement of the shaft in suchdirectiomgsaid abutment members being outof the path.

of movement of the arms whenthe shaft isin normal position, a second shaft aligned'with the operating shaft and rockably-mounted,

clutch means connecting the two shafts, yield ing means normally holding said second shaft in inoperative position, thevoperating shaft being mount-ed for endwise movement, a rock-I ably mounted trip shaft connected to the second shaft for turning it in stop opening direction, yielding means urging the operating shaft toward said second shaft, andimeans actuated by a car entering the cage at; either end thereof for movingthe operating shaft away from the second therefrom.

11. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, sets of stops movable into and out'of closed position to extend over the shaft for declutching it rail sections and disposed to receive between them the wheels of a car upon the rail sections, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the cage at either end thereof, an operating shaft mounted for rocking movement, operating arms loose upon the shaft for relative turning movement thereon, operating connections between the arms and the stops, yielding means for holding the stops closed, abutment members rigid with the shaft and disposed to contact the arms and move them in stop opening direction upon movement of the shaft in such direction, said abutment members being out of the path of movement of the arms when the shaft is in normal position, a second shaft aligned with the operating shaft and rockably mounted, clutch means connecting the two shafts, yielding means normally holding said second shaft in inoperative position, the operating shaft being mounted for endwise movement, a rockably mounted trip shaft connected to the second shaft for turning it in stop opening direction, yielding means urging the operating shaft toward said second shaft, a rock ably mounted shifting shaft, the shifting shaft and the operating shaft having cooperaing means for shifting the latter in clutch releasing direction, and means actuated by a car entering the cage at either end thereof for rocking the shifting shaft in proper direction for declutching the operating shaft from said second shaft.

12. In combination with a cage and rail sections thereon, stops adjacent the ends of the cage and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, said stops being flared outward away from the rail sections and toward the ends of the cage, an operating shaft mounted lengthwise of the cage for rocking and endwise movements, connections between said shaft and the stops for opening the latter upon turning of the shaft in stop opening direction and for returning the shaft to inoperative position, said connections permitting opening and closing of the stops independently of the shaft when the latter is in inoperative position, yielding means for closing the stops, trip means including a second shaft aligned with the operating shaft, clutch means normally connecting the two shafts, yielding means normally holding the second shaft in inoperative position, a shift shaft mounted for rocking movement, cooperating means carried by the shift shaft and the operating shaft for shifting the latter away from said second shaft for oleclutching it therefrom, trans verse shafts adjacent the stops and connected to the shift shaft for turning it in shifting direction, yielding means urging said operating shaft toward said second shaft, and means on said transverse shafts and actuating by a car entering the cage for rocking the transverse shafts, said car actuated means being non-effective as to a car leaving the cage.

13. In combination with a car receiving structure and rail sections thereon, two sets of stops mounted upon said structure and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, yielding means for closing the stops, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the structure at either end thereof, means common to both sets of stops for opening the stops of both sets in the positioning of the structure to receive a car, and means actuated by an entering car for releasing the stopsof both sets to permit closing thereof.

14:. In combination witha car receiving structure and rail sections thereon, two sets of stops mounted upon said structure and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, yielding means for closing the stops, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the structure at either end thereof, a rock shaft, lost motion connections between said shaft and the stops of both sets for opening the stops when the shaft is turned into stop opening position, said connections permitting independent opening and closing of the stops when the shaft is turned into stop closing position, means for turning the shaft into stop opening position in the positioning of the structure toreceive a car, and means actuated by an entering car for releasing the stops of both sets to permit closing thereof.

15. In combination with a car receiving structure and rail sections thereon, two sets of stops mounted upon said structure and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, yielding means for closing the stops, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the structure at either end thereof, means for opening the stops of both sets in the positioning of the structure to receive a car, and means actuated by an entering car for releasing the stops of both sets to permit closing thereof.

16. In combination with a car receiving structure and rail sections thereon, two sets of stops mounted upon said structure and movable into and out of closed position to extend over the rail sections, yielding means for closing the stops, said stops being adapted to be opened by a car entering the structure at either end thereof, a rock shaft, connections between said shaft and the stops of both sets for opening the stops when the shaft is turned into stop opening position in the positioning of the structure to receive a car, and means actuated by an entering car for releasing the stops of both sets to permit closing thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of June. 1930.

GLENN W. MERRITT. 

